Road handguards?

[drift77nz]

Has anyone sourced a "nice" pair of road bike hand guards? I want to fit some to my Bandit for cold weather riding.

[Ocean1]

Has anyone sourced a "nice" pair of road bike hand guards? I want to fit some to my Bandit for cold weather riding.

Yes. The last couple of bikes have had Acerbis Dual Road hand guards.

Like so:

296186296187

[Grashopper]

Yes. The last couple of bikes have had Acerbis Dual Road hand guards.

Like so:


Very nice looking handguards, too. Did you notice a difference?

I've been playing with the thought of getting handguards since last winter. Although I have heated grips, and they make a lot of difference, the outside of my hands still gets really cold due to the wind.

[Ocean1]

Very nice looking handguards, too. Did you notice a difference?

I've been playing with the thought of getting handguards since last winter. Although I have heated grips, and they make a lot of difference, the outside of my hands still gets really cold due to the wind.

They do keep some of the chill off on a cold day, but don't completely block the wind. They help more in the rain, they don't stop the hands getting wet but they do delay it, and they stop the direct pummelling from the rain.

You can get an LED strip that fits down the spine too, which may or may not help with conspicuiousness...nes.

[drift77nz]

Had a look at them. Would like to find something a bit bigger if I could.

[ellipsis]

...two liter plastic milk bottles work...cover your whole mitt...and they are very, very cheap...

[george formby]

If your not worried about looks put some muffs on. Unbeatable weather protection & warmth.

Like so (http://www.twistedthrottle.com/oxford-handlebar-muffs-for-motorcycles)

[Ocean1]

Had a look at them. Would like to find something a bit bigger if I could.

Those ones do look a bit dainty, but they're actually the same height as the original XB12X ones.

There's plenty of choices around... http://www.twistedthrottle.com/barkbusters-storm-handguard-for-7-8-handlebars

Just make sure you can get space for the mounts on your bars.

[FJRider]

Easier to just get decent gloves ... :rolleyes:

[drift77nz]

Has anyone fitted the V-strom hand guards to a Bandit?

[drift77nz]

Those ones do look a bit dainty, but they're actually the same height as the original XB12X ones.

There's plenty of choices around... http://www.twistedthrottle.com/barkbusters-storm-handguard-for-7-8-handlebars

Just make sure you can get space for the mounts on your bars.

Yeah, don't know if I would have the room for the inner clamp.

[Ocean1]

Easier to just get decent gloves ... :rolleyes:

I hate winter glubs. Even if I can find a pair to fit, (and I rarely can) the fucking liners always pull inside out when you take the bastard things off. Then you spend 20min poking all the fingers back in so you can get them on again.

I've got a pair of $400 Alpinestar winter glubs going cheap here if anyone's interested.

[Ocean1]

Yeah, don't know if I would have the room for the inner clamp.

Then see if you can fit some Buell XB12X items...
296356

[drift77nz]

Easier to just get decent gloves ... :rolleyes:

Yeah. I've got decent gloves. they aren't full winter gloves though and I'm not a fan of them anyway as I find them bulky and restrictive. I have hot grips and do have some chill out glove liners but then again i find them too restrictive once I have my gloves on. I could get some bigger gloves to go over them but then a pair of decent gloves to go over them would cost about $100+. Getting up to the price of a set of handguards. There are handguards on ebay, but I don't want to gamble on getting them and them being wrong.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SUZUKI-DL-650-V-STROM-HAND-GUARD-SET-FITS-2004-2011-MODELS-BRAND-NEW-/280963978444?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3AVstrom+650&hash=item416ac214cc&vxp=mtr

[drift77nz]

Then see if you can fit some Buell XB12X items...
296356

Fit much the same as the Vstrom ones.

[Moi]

I hate winter glubs. Even if I can find a pair to fit, (and I rarely can) the fucking liners always pull inside out when you take the bastard things off. Then you spend 20min poking all the fingers back in so you can get them on again.

I've got a pair of $400 Alpinestar winter glubs going cheap here if anyone's interested.

Agree with you about the liners following the fingers... have been wearing a pair of silk gloves from NZ Nature http://www.nznature.co.nz/product/silk-glove-liners which overcome that problem...

Perhaps you'll be able to wear those Alpinestar gloves after all...

[Big Dog]

I am waiting on delivery of a set of these. :) http://www.trademe.co.nz/734977070


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Erelyes]

I am waiting on delivery of a set of these. :) http://www.trademe.co.nz/734977070

Post up a review once you've got em, eh guv?

[Ocean1]

I am waiting on delivery of a set of these. :) http://www.trademe.co.nz/734977070

Good price. They're either Acerbis items a model later than those in post #2 or a knock off of same.

Be carefull with the delicate wee wires....

[Big Dog]

Good price. They're either Acerbis items a model later than those in post #2 or a knock off of same.

Be carefull with the delicate wee wires....

Was going to reinforce them with some heat shrink or trunking tube. :niceone:


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Big Dog]

Post up a review once you've got em, eh guv?

Will do, assuming memory does not fail me. They are knockoffs to be sure at that price but if they look as good in person as the pic and work I dongivashit.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Blackbird]

297459297458

Like Ocean 1, I have Acerbis guards on the Street Triple. They do a reasonable job of deflecting wind and rain without looking too big and clunky. I don't have heated grips and the guards plus Held winter gloves and Rain-offs over the top on the coldest days is all I use. You can also buy LED strips to fit in the centre of the Acerbis guards. I personally think they're a bit naff but they would certainly let you be seen!

[Ocean1]

You can also buy LED strips to fit in the centre of the Acerbis guards. I personally think they're a bit naff but they would certainly let you be seen!

Listen, I've got little enough to aspire to nowadays without having you tell me Naf shit isn't the cutting edge of fashion. :cool:

I've been practicing Naff for fucking years! :baby:

[Blackbird]

Listen, I've got little enough to aspire to nowadays without having you tell me Naf shit isn't the cutting edge of fashion. :cool:

I've been practicing Naff for fucking years! :baby:

Hahaha! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder :cool: My wife has claimed for the last 40 years that my dress sense is naff so we all have a cross to bear :(

[Big Dog]

Good price. They're either Acerbis items a model later than those in post #2 or a knock off of same.

Be carefull with the delicate wee wires....

They arrived today. Well stoked. Had a wee test fit when I got home. They fit nicely around my larger road levers and master cylinder in a way that mx ones just don't.
The wires do actually already have trunking in them in mat black. Still would not want to go full on bush bashing as it would not take much to snag them.
Where they come out they should be easy enough to route down the other cables coming from the bars.
They look well made, I'll try and remember to post some pics when on and connected.




Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Big Dog]

I also like the wind guards can be taken off and just the light bar attached over summer and the fitment hardware is bigger and more serious looking than most other kits like this.

I really need to ride with them for a bit to give a real report though.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Big Dog]

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/08/8ady6uma.jpg


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[BadSarah]

they don't look naff at all either!

[Big Dog]

they don't look naff at all either!

That was something I was concerned about but they don't seem to detract from the looks. Hard to see in the iPhone picture from 6 feet away but in that light all you can normally see from 20 feet or more away with the sun behind is any chrome bits. And the headlight. If the sun is low enough not even the headlight.

LEDs are bright and clear even with a setting sun behind.

They give the bike some width. I'll report back in a couple of thousand kms. ( about 2-3 weeks. ) so far all the traffic I have encountered seems to be more aware of my presence. Even when riding "out of the setting sun"

To be fair it was only 15 degrees this morning not the 8 of last week but no need for the heated grips yet.

Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Erelyes]

Those look great, nicely done.

[5ive]

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/08/8ady6uma.jpg


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

Oh, I thought your bike looked different when I parked next to it this morning. It's the handguards ;)

[Big Dog]

Oh, I thought your bike looked different when I parked next to it this morning. It's the handguards ;)

Small world.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Erelyes]

Small world.

Just this country really.... :sunny:

I'm guessing that you'd have to be careful fitting these to a faired bike to make sure... well, that they fit?

[Big Dog]

Just this country really.... :sunny:

I'm guessing that you'd have to be careful fitting these to a faired bike to make sure... well, that they fit?

Depending on the size of the fairing they may not make any difference either. These would not have fit on either of my last 3 faired bikes at full lock. Having said that I have never had ice form on my gloves with a fairing either.

Edit: as to the small world comment I am forever amazed at where I run into people I know IRL. Especially those from overseas.

Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Big Dog]

First proper dousing today. My gloves normally leak really badly in that sort of rain. Not today! :twothumbs:


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Big Dog]

Probably my final update:
I have had these on for approx 650 kms.
In that time I have ridden through storms bad enough a lot of stalwarts left their bikes at home. Some questioned my sanity. I have ridden in rain so heavy there was flooding at the top of hills.
I have ridden in sunny cold weather.
I have not ridden in warm weather.
Night and day.
Brand - Alchemy
Source - http://www.trademe.co.nz/740654469.
Trader - thirdgear
Also available with white blades or amber lights.

The same product listed on eBay claims the blades are paintable to colour match your bike.
Rating for:
Cutting the wind chill. 3/5
Head wind stability. 4/5
Cross wind stability. 4/5
Simplicity to install. 5/5
Build quality. 4/5
Rain cut. 4/5

- not as effective as the Zeta XC hand armour and LED indicators for cutting wind.
+ handling is less affected in a cross wind.
+ there is no noticeable additional drag as there is with my Zeta ones. This could have more to do with the power to weight difference of the two bikes. The Zeta guards live on a DR350.
- they wobble a bit due to being attached at only one end, but you have to be paying attention to notice.
+ they should fit virtually any bike with one or the both sleeves on the fit kit. Assuming your internal diameter is between 14-20mm.
+ they reach successfully around the larger levers of the muscle bike. Zeta hand armour do not.
- I had to move my levers in because where they were the levers were longer than the bars. This means my mirrors are less effective. Smallest violin...
+ they make reasonably effective bar end weights.
- probably not up to bush bashing. Neither is the bike I bought them for.
- wires are a little spindly.
+ wires being so thin they don't stand out and look out of place.

I am not convinced they make the bike super visible. I am convinced they allow a better perception of my distance and speed for other road users. Anecdotally at least.
The intersections where a lot of people either pull out or half lurch with a SMIDSY look on their face the drivers have been extra courteous and maintained eye contact.
While some drivers still try to obstruct me when filtering more drivers see me from further back and move over more smoothly.

Neither good nor bad just an observation, very high cross winds cause a whistling sound. The sound is quite odd if you're not expecting it.

The important question: would I buy them again? For a road bike, Yes.
Overall for a road bike 4/5.
Overall for a motard 4/5.
For an adventure bike 2/5.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/12/resa6u8u.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/12/tepuhu4a.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/12/edapu2an.jpg

Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Winston001]

Just FYI I made up bars on each side from flat aluminium strap (Mitre 10) for the Ducati and fitted hippo-hands over them in the winter. Totally windproof and waterproof.

[Big Dog]

Just FYI I made up bars on each side from flat aluminium strap (Mitre 10) for the Ducati and fitted hippo-hands over them in the winter. Totally windproof and waterproof.

Photos?


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[drift77nz]

Probably my final update:
I have had these on for approx 650 kms.
In that time I have ridden through storms bad enough a lot of stalwarts left their bikes at home. Some questioned my sanity. I have ridden in rain so heavy there was flooding at the top of hills.
I have ridden in sunny cold weather.
I have not ridden in warm weather.
Night and day.
Brand - Alchemy
Source - http://www.trademe.co.nz/740654469.
Trader - thirdgear
Also available with white blades or amber lights.

The same product listed on eBay claims the blades are paintable to colour match your bike.
Rating for:
Cutting the wind chill. 3/5
Head wind stability. 4/5
Cross wind stability. 4/5
Simplicity to install. 5/5
Build quality. 4/5
Rain cut. 4/5

- not as effective as the Zeta XC hand armour and LED indicators for cutting wind.
+ handling is less affected in a cross wind.
+ there is no noticeable additional drag as there is with my Zeta ones. This could have more to do with the power to weight difference of the two bikes. The Zeta guards live on a DR350.
- they wobble a bit due to being attached at only one end, but you have to be paying attention to notice.
+ they should fit virtually any bike with one or the both sleeves on the fit kit. Assuming your internal diameter is between 14-20mm.
+ they reach successfully around the larger levers of the muscle bike. Zeta hand armour do not.
- I had to move my levers in because where they were the levers were longer than the bars. This means my mirrors are less effective. Smallest violin...
+ they make reasonably effective bar end weights.
- probably not up to bush bashing. Neither is the bike I bought them for.
- wires are a little spindly.
+ wires being so thin they don't stand out and look out of place.

I am not convinced they make the bike super visible. I am convinced they allow a better perception of my distance and speed for other road users. Anecdotally at least.
The intersections where a lot of people either pull out or half lurch with a SMIDSY look on their face the drivers have been extra courteous and maintained eye contact.
While some drivers still try to obstruct me when filtering more drivers see me from further back and move over more smoothly.

Neither good nor bad just an observation, very high cross winds cause a whistling sound. The sound is quite odd if you're not expecting it.

The important question: would I buy them again? For a road bike, Yes.
Overall for a road bike 4/5.
Overall for a motard 4/5.
For an adventure bike 2/5.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/12/resa6u8u.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/12/tepuhu4a.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/12/edapu2an.jpg

Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

After your in depth review of these hand guards, I have ordered some today, along with some blackpool mirrors, shorter/adjustable levers, and some LED daytime running lights.
Did you have to put inline resistors in for the leds?
Thinking of getting the handguards hydrodipped.

Sent from my GT-S6802 using Tapatalk 2

[Big Dog]

After your in depth review of these hand guards, I have ordered some today, along with some blackpool mirrors, shorter/adjustable levers, and some LED daytime running lights.
Did you have to put inline resistors in for the leds?
Thinking of getting the handguards hydrodipped.

Sent from my GT-S6802 using Tapatalk 2

Yeah, pretty in depth for an iPhone review with a baby sleeping in that arm lol.
I am using mine as "body position lights". This is because If identify them as and try to comply with rules as daytime running lights they need to go off automatically if your headlight is switched on. Kind of pointless on a bike with a hard wired headlight in a country that requires use of a headlight at all times. Body position lights just need to be less than 1.5 high.

If you are using yours as indicators and you are removing your standard indicators you will need resistors. If you plan to do the back as less in the future save yourself the heartache. DRC do a replacement relay for LED indicators. $45 ish I think from any northern accessories stockist. Otherwise you need to mess around finding the right resistance. Then repeat when you inevitably match the rear. Mathematically this seems simple but for the DR I had a mech do it, then due to a small issue with clearance and the back tyre I had a need to shorten the wire. Cue fast phasing.
Bought individually the resistors for four corners will cost more than a relay.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[drift77nz]

Okay, just realised what I asked and clicked that if I aren't using using them as indicators, I don't need resistors:stupid:. I will be using my handguards as clearance lights as well. I don't know if I will use the other lights yet. Will post a pic when i have them fitted up.

[drift77nz]

Got the Handguards on and they z are brilliant. Cuts the wind chill on my hands very well.
Also fitted some "Blackpool" mirrors, Shorty levers and put on the rim stripes. Not to sure on the rim stripes.

Sent from my GT-S6802 using Tapatalk 2

[Big Dog]

Looking good. Give the rim stripes a few kms. They always look awkward on day one but can really make a bike pop.
But then they can still look awkward. Only way to know is see how you feel in 2000kms.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[nzspokes]

How are these hand guards surviving?

[Ocean1]

How are these hand guards surviving?

Mine are all sold with their bikes. Will probably get more for the SDR though, it don't have heated grips and for me the road handguards are a good solution.

The Acerbis ones in particular look to be made from good materials but a few friends have the cheaper ones and they look as good.

[nzspokes]

The Vstrom ones do look the business. I may go that way.

[Big Dog]

Mine came off for the summer. I like to take advantage of the vents in the gloves.
They will go back on for winter.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[drift77nz]

My handgaurds are still working well. I only use summer gloves and have been caught out in driving rain and the handgaurds have kept the majority of the water off my hands and since I have had the guards on I have not experienced numb thumbs.
The gaurds lights are still good and guys I have riden with have commented how much more visible the bike is in their rear vision mirrors (doesn't happen that often:2guns:).
Pretty sturdy too. Have been tested to 200kph+ and haven't moved:innocent:.
Very highly recommended.

[Big Dog]

My handgaurds are still working well. I only use summer gloves and have been caught out in driving rain and the handgaurds have kept the majority of the water off my hands and since I have had the guards on I have not experienced numb thumbs.
The gaurds lights are still good and guys I have riden with have commented how much more visible the bike is in their rear vision mirrors (doesn't happen that often:2guns:).
Pretty sturdy too. Have been tested to 200kph+ and haven't moved:innocent:.
Very highly recommended.

Jeepers. At 200k testing the hand guards were up to keeping even light brush off the hands would be sphincter tightening! :rofl:


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[haydes55]

I'm in the market for a pair of hand guards now.

I want some that mount at bar end and to the levers/bar.

Has anyone fitted some bark busters or similar to a road bike?

I'd rather not have to modify mounts. But wouldn't rule out making up some mounts.

[Big Dog]

Depends what bike. Unless you have larger than standard levers I would look at the Zeta range. Same concept as barkbuster a but more room for big hands.
Also there is a range of sizes of bar clamp that would fit.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[awa355]

I'm in the market for a pair of hand guards now.

I want some that mount at bar end and to the levers/bar.

Has anyone fitted some bark busters or similar to a road bike?

I'd rather not have to modify mounts. But wouldn't rule out making up some mounts.

I have a pair of unused hand guards hanging on my wall. They don't fix to the bar ends tho. Plastic in a black carbon fibre finish. Look okay but don't fit my right side bar due to the master cyl being too close to the bar.
If you are out this way (Te Awamutu) you are welcome to have a look and see if they might suit.

[nzspokes]

I need some for sure now. Ive fitted wider bars to help with pillion work, hands are getting chilly.

[GTRMAN]

Acerbis do a set that mount in place of the end weights, they work a treat. TSS Redbone in the Hutt stock them

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk